GERARD HOULLIER is sure Aston Villa are only one win away from securing their place in the Premier League – but he just cannot bring himself to say he hopes it comes against Liverpool tomorrow.

Gerard Houllier is torn between who he would like to win in this afternoon's game

“It is too heartbreaking for me,” said Houllier, ironic for a man whose life has twice been on the line in the last 12 years because of heart problems.

He remains a smiling, engaging man despite his serious illnesses.

When he was taken to hospital in Birmingham in April 2011 it was the end of his job with Villa, the end of his career in hands-on management.

Houllier, 65, is now head of global soccer for Red Bull. They have clubs in Salzburg, New York, Ghana and Brazil and it was from Salzburg this week that he talked of the Villa v Liverpool game that pulls at his vulnerable heartstrings.

“I think one more win for Villa, then they are safe,” he said. “They have done well to recover. This young team they have is learning well.

“I want Villa to stay in the Premier League. I like the club and the people there very much. But for me to talk about them beating Liverpool, it is too hard, I cannot say it.”

He was with Villa for only nine months. It was not what the doctor ordered.

It was his second management job since his severe heart problem of 2001, when he was rushed to hospital after falling ill at half-time in a Liverpool v Leeds game.

There was a drunken players’ revolt to deal with at Villa, poor results, crowd unrest and the threat of relegation. “I see Villa have just won back-to-back league games for the first time since I was there,” said Houllier. We were on the phone and I couldn’t see it, but there was probably a smile.

A run of only four defeats in the last 17 games took Villa from 18th – their lowest position for nine years – to a ninth-place finish, although Houllier was in his hospital bed long before that.

With Gary McAllister in temporary charge, Villa beat Arsenal and Liverpool in May 2011, something that they have currently equalled with wins over QPR and Reading. That has put daylight between themselves and the bottom three and beating Liverpool would give the club three successive victories for the first time in three years.

I want Villa to stay in the Premier League. I like the club and the people there very much. But for me to talk about them beating Liverpool, it is too hard, I cannot say it.

Gerard Houllier

They have not done the double over Liverpool for 20 years but, having won at Anfield 3-1 already, they have the opportunity to emulate what Ron Atkinson’s team did on the way to finishing the 1992-93 season as league runners-up.

Winning was what Houllier was used to at Liverpool. He was there from 1998 to 2004 and won the League Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Cup, Charity Shield and UEFA Super Cup. When

Houllier touched the ‘This is Anfield’ sign in the tunnel on his first return to Liverpool with Aston Villa – they lost 3-0 – it caused fury among the Villa fans.

But affection is affection and cannot be denied.

Liverpool are rebuilding under Brendan Rodgers, their form patchy with blocks of wins followed by blocks of poorer results.

And their last defeat, 3-1 at Southampton, was dismal.

“I look at Liverpool now and I see a team forming,” said Houllier.

“I want to see Liverpool back in the Champions League as much as I want Villa still in the Premier League.

“It’s hard for me to look at this game on Sunday.

“A win for Villa would keep them up. But, maybe, a draw?”

Houllier led Liverpool to their 2001 Uefa Cup victory and would like to see the Reds back in Europe